Vaccine-preventable diseases

Hepatitis B

Did you know?

Many people who get hepatitis B show no symptoms and may not know they have the disease.

The disease

Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver.

It can cause serious disease including permanent liver damage called cirrhosis. It is also one of the main causes of liver cancer, which can be fatal.

The hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. This includes an accidental or intentional poke with a used needle, being splashed in the mouth, nose, or eyes with infected blood, being bitten by an infected person, sharing items that may have blood on them such as a toothbrush, dental floss or razor, and by having unprotected sex with someone infected with the hepatitis B virus. Mothers who are infected with hepatitis B virus can pass the virus to their newborn babies during delivery.

When young children get infected with the hepatitis B virus they often do not have symptoms but most will stay infected for life. This is why getting protection from the vaccine at a young age is important.

The vaccine

The hepatitis B vaccine is provided free to infants as part of their routine immunizations at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. It is usually given as a combined vaccine with diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine).

The hepatitis B vaccine is also provided to students in Grade 6 who have not received the vaccine.

People born in 1980 or later who have never received the hepatitis B vaccine or the recommended number of doses for their age can also get the vaccine for free.

The vaccine is also provided free to children and adults at high risk of hepatitis B infection.